SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Two more Indiana city councils are opposing
efforts to write a gay marriage ban into the state constitution.

The South Bend and Muncie councils both voted Monday night to adopt
resolutions against the proposed constitutional amendment being considered
by state legislators. The South Bend resolution was approved on a 6-2
vote, while the Muncie resolution was adopted in a 9-0 vote.

South Bend Councilman Dave Varner, the council's only Republican, said he
voted against the resolution because he believed voters should be allowed
to decide the issue in a statewide referendum.

About 15 people spoke in favor of the resolution before the council voted,
which didn't sway Varner, the South Bend Tribune reported.

"I don't think the people here tonight are prepared to accept the results
of a statewide referendum ... because they probably know what the results
are going to be," Varner said.

City councils in Indianapolis, Evansville and Bloomington and a bipartisan
group of mayors from several cities have also spoken out against the
proposed amendment.

The House Judiciary Committee on Monday delayed a vote on following more
than three hours of testimony from supporters and opponents. If
legislators approve the amendment during this year's session, it will go
before voters on the November election ballot.

Muncie Councilman Doug Marshall, a Democrat, said he sponsored the
resolution because "I want it to be known nationally that Muncie is a city
of everyone."

Muncie resident Frank Weyl was the only one of the 11 people who spoke
before the council vote who supported the proposed constitutional
amendment, The Star Press reported.

"We are obligated to God to obey his laws," Weyl said. "We are obligated
to obey the Lord."

Charles Mason, a retired Episcopalian minister, said "denying gay marriage
is like denying women the right to vote."

"Heterosexuals have virtually destroyed the sanctity of marriage," he
said.